Living Canera

Much the same way a human brain is composed of connected and interacting neurons, as well as their support cells that keep them functioning, the mind of Canera is comprised of the minds of all of the various organisms that live in and upon her.   Human consciousness has no physical basis more substantial than the electrical signals generated as the neurons communicate with each other. Canera's consciousness is similarly suspended in the ether among the interactions between her component organisms.   The entire planet composes Canera's body, and while she does have control over her body, it is not absolute, and it does not extend to such a small scale that she can affect an individual. Can you make a single hair on your arm stand up alone?   Canera therefore has a vested interest in the life and health of her populations. Not just in increasing their numbers (quantity), but their happiness as well (quality), because mental health directly affects physical health.   On an everyday personal scale, it can be observed that helping other people and building community connections increases the health not just of the people involved, but the environment that they live in.   To the other side, harm caused to others or the environment causes similar negative ripples to propagate out, and quality of life in the area deteriorates.